Blank-feed mechanism



J. A. GRAY BLANK FEED MECHANISM Get. 30, 1928.

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J. A. GRAY BLANK FEED MECHANISM I Filed June 4. 1924 a shuts-shoot 2 v 1311/92 Ann n 41- 4o 2 1 4' 55 n B 1 1 1 14' 2 I I, 15 v 21' 20 Q 1a 7' *3; J

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J A GRAY BLANK FEED MECHANIS" Filed June 4. 1924 3 Shuts- Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. GRAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOIR, TO AMERICAN CAN COM- PANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BLANK-FEED MECHANISM.

Application filed June 4,

The hereinafter described invention com-- prises automatic means for the delivery or handling of tin plate or sheet metal generally, (commonly known as blanks) and is more particularly designed for use in connection with the feeding of blanks utilized in the manufacture of can bodies and for the feeding of the tin plate or sheet metal blanks to the cutting means of a body blank slitting machine for dividing or cutting the sheet or blank into a number of smaller units of pre determined size or dimension, although it will be understood that the invention is not restricted or limited to the feeding of sheet metal blanks ortin plates to slitting mechanism.

The essential object of the invention is the removal of the sheet .metal or tin plate singly from a stack of positioned sheets or plates and delivering the same successively on to a receiving table or platform adapted to direct the sheets to other mechanism for v thereof selecting the sheets singly from a stack of sheets or plates and to deliver them accurately into position to be acted upon by other mechanism preferably employed in connection with the manufacture of cans or metallic containers.

A further object of the invention is the 7 production of an automatically operated apparatus simple of construction, positive as to the feeding action thereof, efficient, economical and having a feeding output capacity materially in excess of feeding mechanism known to me at the present time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will present themselves and be apparent 1924. Serial No. 717,853.

as the action of the inter-connected working instrumentahties is understood or compre hended from the following description of the row, disclosing a stack of metal sheets or the stack partly elevated.

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation partly broken away, disclosing the drive mechanism for actuating the various parts of the apparatus in timed relation and disclosing the mechanism for controlling the feed of the body blanks or metal sheets into position to be acted upon by the elevating means of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a broken detailed view in side elevation illustrating the means for controlling the delivery of the sheets or metal blanks from the apparatus in accordance as to whether one or more body blanks or plates are simultaneously elevated from the stack. Fig. 5 is a broken detailed sectional view in side elevation disclosing the mechanism for advancing the position of the sheets or blanks within the hollow for presenting the same successively to the elevating means.

F 6 is a top plan view illustrating the swinging trip arm for actuating the deflecting means controlling the delivery of sheets or blanks from within theapparatus and disclosingv the mounting for said arm.

In the drawings, the letter A isused to designate any suitable form of a base member or frame structure capable of housing and sustaining the feed controlling mechanism for the stack of body blanks or sheets positioned within the magazine or holder therefor, said frame structure being provided with upwardly extended wall members blanks in position and the innermost one of A held in spaced relation and connected one to the other by the transversely disposed tie member A Figs. 1 and 2 and 3 of the drawings. The side member A and the connecting tie member A may be said to constitute a super-structure for the base member A of the apparatus and within the said structure there is mounted adjacent the upper end portion thereof a transversely disposed shaft 13, which carries a plurality of spaced rollers 1 mounted to rotate thereon. Above the shaft 3 is mounted a transversely disposed shaft G, which, like the shaft B, has secured thereto a series of spaced rollers 2. Over the rollers 1 and 2 work the friction feed belts 3 adapted to co-act with the surface of an enlarged roller or drum D for receiving and transferring the blanks or sheets of metal from the elevating means of the apparatus to the discharge point thereof, Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. This roller or drum D is mounted upon a trans versely disposed shaft 4, to one end of which shaft is attached a sprocket wheel 5 adapted to be driven through the medium of a sprocket chain 6 working over the sprocket wheel 5 and a sprocket wheel 7 secured to one end -of a transversely disposed shaft 8, the shaft 8 having rotation imparted there to from any suitable source of power and preferably through the medium of a drive chain 9 working over a sprocket wheel 10 secured to the opposite end of the shaft to that carrying the sprocket wheel 7 It will thus be apparent that power applied to the shaft 8 is transmitted through the drive chain 9 for actuating the shaft 4 carrying the drum or roller D.

To each end of the shaft 4 is mounted a crank 11 carrying the crank arms 12 which at their lower ends carry transversely disposed actuating rod 13, which ,rod has mounted thereon rollers 18 which work within a cam slot 1 1 ofv the bearing plates 15, secured to the side members A of the frame structure, Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, so that with the rotary motion of the shaft 4 there is transmitted through the medium of the cranks 11 and the crank arms 12 a reciprocating motion to the actuating rod 13. This rod 13 extends through a bearing 16 centrally mounted with respect thereto, Fig. 2 of the drawings, the said bearing 16 constituting a continuation of a sleeve 17 mounted for reciprocating movement upon a vertically disposed suction pipe 18. The sleeve 17 carries a suction head 19, the face of which is adapted when suction is applied to bear upon the exposed face of the innermost sheet or blank 20 of the stack of blanks or sheets 21 extending within the holder or magazine 22 of the apparatus and which holder or magazine is provided with a downwardly inclined open bottom 22 and the said suction head is moved toward the exposed face of the innermost blank 20 of the stack of blanks when the actuating rod 13 carrying the sleeve 17 for the suction head is moved upwardly within the cam slot ll of the bearing plates 15 during the throw of the crank arms 12. The suction head 19 is provided with a port 20, which, on the full downward movement of the sleeve 17 s adapted to register with a port 21" of the suction pipe 18, Fig. 1 of the drawing, it being understood that the suction pipe 18 through its continuation 22 is connected with a suction pump, not shown. WVhen the port20 of the suction head 19 is in registry with the port 21 of the suction pipe 18, the said suction head is in bearing contact with the exposedface of the innermost blank or sheet 20 and at such time the vacuum is on, so that on the upward movement of the sleeve 17 through the movement of the actuating rod 13, the innermost plate-0r sheet 20 is lifted from the'stack 21 and carried or elevated upwardly untilthe top portion is placed between the surface of the drum D and the feed belts 3. B reason of the frictional engagement of t ese parts with the sheet 20 and the rotary motion imparted to the drum B the elevated sheet is moved upwardly over the drum D, being downwardly directed in a plane of curvature by means of a swingingly mounted deflecting attachment 23, which guides or deflects the upper or top of the upwardly moving sheet onto or within a delivery chute 24E, Fig. 2 of the drawings. v

The suction engagement of the head '19 with the plate 20 is broken or destroyed when the port 20 thereof is brought into registry on" the extreme upper stroke of the sleeve 17 with an annular port 25 formed at the upper end of the suction pipe 18 and the blank or sheet freed from the influence of the vacuum applied to the suction head, the suction pipe 18 being closedcbeyond the point a. tical movable sleeve 17 taken in connection with the actuating means therefor may be said to constitute a preferred form of elevating means for successively removing blanks or sheets from within the stack holder therefor and placing the same within the sphere of the rotating drum D and the feed belts 1 constituting the feed mechanism.

WVithin the base structure A of the apparatus is mounted a fixed transversely disposed rod E on which is loosely mounted a sleeve E carrying in spaced relation a series of sorting rollers or disks 25 which are keyed to the said sleeve E. The centrally disposed disk or roller is in the form of a sheet-feeding gear 26, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the said rollers or disks 25 and the gear 26 being projected upwardly through the open bottom section 22 of the bottom 22 of the holder or mechanism 22, the diameter of the gear 26 being slightly The suction head 19 and its verthe gear 26 acts as a time feed device for gradually advancing singly the sheets 20 of the stack 21 into direct vertical position relative to the hopper or magazine 22. The said feed gear 26 is actuated for slow rotary movement through the medium of a pawl 28, which normally engages with a ratchet wheel 29 secured'to the sleeve E, Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The pawl. 28 is pivoted to an upwardly projected swinging arm 29, the movement of which arm is controlled through the medium of a connecting link 30 by a bell crank 31 pivotally mounted to a bracket 32 and actuated by means of a vertically reciprocating connecting rod 33, the upper looped end 33 of which encircles an eccentric 83 mounted upon the shaft 4, Fig. 2 of the drawings. The rotary movementof the shaft l is thus transmitted for imparting reciprocating movement to the cccentrically mounted connecting rod 33 for actuating the pawl 28 to impart a steprotation to the ratchet wheel 29 and in turn step rotation to the feed gear 26.

The stack or body of blanks when placed within the holder or magazine 22 bear against a spring held fulcrumed arm on lever 23%, a portion of which when the magazine is empty pro]octs above the plane of the floor 22 and it is the weight of the stack of sheets, if of sufficient number, placed within the magazine which bearing upon the fulcrumed lever or arm 34, holds the same downwardly pressed and the lower edge of the innermost blank is within the sphere of or in fact to rest between the teeth I of the feed gear 26, the upper edge portion of the sheets bearing against the sustaining bar 34'. As rotation is imparted to the feed gear 26 the blanks are first slightly raised and as the movement of the feed gear 26 is continued they are lowered to clear the supporting rod 34' and carried inwardly until they stand in vertical position with the face of the innermost blank resting against the retaining bars The position of the blanks as gradually fed or advanced from an incline to the horizontal into vertical position will be readily understood through reference to Fig. 2 of the'drawings. The blanks standing in vertical position are disposed to be successively removed by the action of the suction head 19 and raised or elevated until the upper portion thereof is moved or advanced between the belts 3 and the surface of the drum 4, being frictionally engaged thereby and raised or elevated as previously stated until discharged from the apparatus onto a table or delivery chute 24. As the sheets or blanks of the stack 21 are advanced or moved inwardly by the feed gear 26 into vertical position, the lower end portion of the innermost sheet bears against an upwardly projected spring held arm 36 pivotally mounted for swinging movement to a bracket 37 and connected by a link 38 to a cam plate 88, and as the weight or pressure of the blanks moved into vertical position is gradually increased against the arm 36, the same is forced inwardly, gradually drawing therewith through the medium of the connecting link 38, the cam 38 for engagement with. the pawl 28 to liftthe same out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 29. With the pawl thus released from its engagement with the ratchet wheel 29, the action of the feed gear 26 is discontinued,

on the inner part of the magazine being freed of sheets or blanks, the tension of the spring 39 forces outwardly the arm '36, throwing the cam 38 to release the pawl 28, permitting the same to drop into engage ment with the ratchet wheel. 29, to resume the feeding of sheets from the front part of the magazine.

After the sheets delivered into the maga zine or hopper have been advanced inwardly to such a point as to be moved out of conta with the upwardly projected portion of the fulcrum arm El i the tension of the spring swings upwardly the inner end of the said arm or lever to bear against a pin or stud 32 and lift the pawl 28 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 29, thus discontinuing the feed of body blanks andv by so doing indicating to the attendant that an additional supply of blanks or metal sheets must be placed within the magazine or holder. r

At times, during the operation of the apparatus, there is raised or elevator from within the stack holder or magazine a sheet or blank of a thickness in excess of ti cepted thickness for the blanks or she metal, or by reason of a gummy CURL tion of the sheets there may be adhering of one sheet to the other and thus two sheets be raised simultaneously through the action of the suction elevating means from within the stack or holder. It is undesirable that sheets of excess thickness or for two sheets to be delivered from within the apparatus to the place of deposit designed for sheets of proper thickness and to prevent the oe- 'currence of this, I have provided a simple form of mechanism for throwing out or de fleeting sheets of excessive thickness or two adhering sheets, the equivalent of a sheet at excessive thickness. For this purpose, there is provided the trip arm 23 before ref to, the lower end of which arm is cated and pivotallymounted to a projecting stud or bracket ll) of an open arcuated frame which frame is loosely mounted upon the shatts'B and O centrally thereo't', Fig. 6 of the drawing. Vithin the bifurcated por- 'tion of the arm 23 is mounted a gauge roller 41, the distance between the periphery of the said gauge roller 41 and the surface of the drum D being equal to that of the thickness of a single sheet of proper thick ness to pass therebetween. In case a sheet of undue thickness or two adhering sheets are raised by the action of the suction elevating means and delivered between the feed belts 3 and the surface oi the drum D, the same when brought for movement beneath the gauge roller 41 will force the same outwardly and by so doing swing upwardly the free end of the trip arm 23, the action of which is to throw upwardly the pivoted lever 42 to lift the pivoted switch 42 and place the same into engagement with the contact of an electrical circuit 43 for closing the magnet 44 and energizing the same to draw inwardly an armature 44, which, when drawn inwardly places the lower end thereof in position immediately above the notched portion 45 of an arm 45 and which arm at its upper end is slotted at Z) for loose mounting upon a crank arm 46 projected from the shaft C, Figs. 1 and 4 ot' the drawin the lower end of the arm 45 on which is mounted the magnet 44 and equally so, swingingly mounted the armature 44 is biturcated Lo straddle the shaft 4. On the shaft 4 is mounted a cam 47, which during the rotary motion of the shaft 4 acts to raise and lower the arm 45 but it will be understood that when the armature 44 is out of engagement with the magnet 44 there is no movement of the arm 45 transmitted to the crank arm 46 and the arm 45 at such times being an idle one. However, when the armature 44' is positioned for engagement with the notched portion 45 the upward throw of the arm 45 is transmitted to the crank arm 46 for oscillating the shaft C to raise or swin upwardly the deflecting plate 23, which plate when swung upwardly releases the downward deflecting pressure onto the outwardly moving sheets or blanks, so that the same spring upwardly so to speak and move from within the machine or ap- V paratus on a line above that oi the chute 24 and thus remain separate from sheets of proper thickness discharging from the apparatus. Of course, after a sheet otlj' excess thickness or two adhering sheets have been discharged from the apparatus above the chute 24 the upward pressure onto the gauge roller is released, when the trip arm 23 falls by gravity and the lever 42 falling therewith causes a dropping of the switch 42 to .break connection with the contact 43, thus opening the electrical circuit and releasing the armature 44 which swlngs outwardly by gravity and the deflecting plate 23 lowers blanks being placed in proper vertical po-' sition for the elevation or removal thereof singly lrom the hopper to within the sphere or the delivery means of the apparatus, and

that means are provided for automatically dirontinuing the inward feed or the blanks within the hopper on the stack of blanks being carried or advanced inwardly beyond a certain point so as to notify or advise the operator of the machine that a fresh supply or stack of blanks are to be placed Within the magazine or holder.

l' l lll G the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment it will be understood that there is no intent to limit or restrict the invention to the details of construction and the details of the interworking parts herein described and illustrated in the drawings, but, on the contrary, I wish to be understood as claiming the invention as broadly as the state of the art will war rant.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: H

1. An apparatus for the described pur pose comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of blanks, means for initially separating successively the lower edges of said blanks and ire-stacking them within said holder; and means for successively removing the re-stacked blanks from said holder.

2. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of. blanks, and means for successively separating the lower edges of andre-stacking said blanks within said holder.

3. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder having a portion adapted to receive a stack of blanks, meansfor initially separating successively the lower edges of niid blanks, shifting the separated blanks to a second portion or" said holder, and restacking them in said second portion.

4. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of: substantially vertically disposed blanks, and means for successively separating the lower edges of and re-stacking said blanks within sa d holder.

5.111 an apparatus for the described purpose, holder adapted to contain a stack of substantially vertically disposed blanks, and a gear for separating said blanks at their lower edges and for re-stacking the same.

6. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of blanks, and a gear for relatively moving said blanks one upon another in said holder.

7 In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of blanks, and a gear for separating and relatively moving said blanks one upon another in said holder.

8. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of vertically disposed blanks, a movable memher for supporting said blanks by engagement with the lower edges thereof, and means for successively spacing aiart the bottom edges of said blanks holder.

9. In an apparatus for the describedpurpose; a. holder having a portion adaoted to contain a stack of blanks, means for shifting the lower parts only of. said blanks to a second portion of said holder, and devices for controlling the operation of said shift ing means in accordance with the number of V blanks within thefirst mentioned portion of said holder. 10. In an apparatus for the described purpose; a holder having'a portion adapted to contain a stack of blanks, means for shifting said blanks sidewise to a second portion of said holder, and devices for controlling the operation of said shifting means in accordance with the number of blanks within the second mentioned portion of said holder.

11. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder having a portion adapted to contain a. stack of blanks, means for successively removing said blanks from a second portion of said holder, and means for spacing apart and shifting said blanks from the first mentioned portion of said holder into the sphere of action of said removing means. I

12. An apparatus for the described pur pose comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of substantially vertically disposed blanks, means for spacing apart the bottom edges of the blanks, and means for imparting continuous linear movement to the endwit in said i most blank away from the following blank,

and means for moving the endmost blank of said stackvertically, and'means for ngaging the moving blank and carrying it out of said holder and into a substantially horizontal position.

16. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of substantially vertically disposed blanks, means for spacing apart the bottom edges of the blanks, means for inltlally mov ing the endmost blank of said stack vertically, a revolving drum positioned to engage the upper end portion of the moving blank, and means for causing said blank to follow the surface of said drum into a substantially horizontal position.

17. An apparatus for the described purpose comprlsmg a holder adapted to contain .a stack of substantially vertically disposed blanks, a gear for feeding the 'bottomedges of the blanks, means for initially mov ng the endmost blank of said stack vertically, a re volving drum positioncd above said holder,

and a flexible belt adapted to follow the surface of said drum from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, said drum and said belt being adapted to grip the upper end portion of the moving blank to carry said blank out of said holder and into a substantially horizontal position.

l8. Inan apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of blanks in upright position resting on their bottom edges, a member adapted to be brought into contact with the surface of the endmost blank of said stack, means for causing said memberto adhere to said surface, and mechanism for moving said member to slide said blank from said holder in the plane of said surface.

19. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of blanks in upright position resting on their bottom edges, a member positioned to engage the surface of the endmost blank of said stack, means for causing said member to adhere to said surface, mechanism for moving said member to slide said blank from said holder in the plane of said surface, and means for destroying the adhesion between said member and said blank when the latter is partially removed from the holder.

20. In an apparatus for the described purand means for causing said member periodi-' cally to adhesively engage said surface to ,partially remove said blank from said holder.

21. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of blanks in upright position resting on their bottom edges, means for preliminarily separating the outermost blank from the stack, a reciprocating member adapted to traverse the surface of the endmost blank of said stack, and means for causing said member to adhesively engage said surface during one portion of its movement to partially remove said blank from said holder.

22. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a blank, a reciprocable suction member adapted to engage the surface of the said blank, a ported suction pipe on Which said suction member slides and mechanism for moving said member to partially remove said blank from the holder by a sliding movement in the plane of said surface.

23. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a blank, a movable suction member adapted to traverse the surface of said blank, and means, including a suction pipe on which the suction member is guided in its traversing movement, for partially exhausting said member to cause it to adhesively engage said surface to move said blank.

24. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a blank, a reciprocating suction member adapted to .traverse thesurface of said blank, and a ported suction pipe on which thesuction member slides and is guided for creating a partial vacuum Within said member during its movement in one direction to cause it to engage and move said blank, said pipe having means for destroying said partial vacuum during the movement of said member in the other direction.

25. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a blank, a reciprocating suction member adapted to traverse the surface of said blank, a guiding suction pipe for the suction member for moving said member into contact with'said blank at one end of its stroke, and means operating through said pipe for creating a partial vacuum Within sa1d member Wh1le in contact with said blank to cause it to" adhere to and move the same.

26. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a blank,

a movable suction cup adapted to traverse the surface of said blank, a suction pipe guiding said cup and a valve carried by said cup and said pipe and adapted to periodically connect the interior of said cup With said pipe, thereby producing a partial vacuum Within said cup to cause it to'adhere to and move said blank.

27. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a blank, a movable suction cup adapted to traverse the surface of said blank, a suction pipe forming a slide for said cup, and a valve controlled by the movement of said cup and adapted to periodically connect the interior of said cupwith said pipe, thereby producing a partial vacuum Within said cup to cause it to adhere to and move said blank.

28. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a holder adapted to contain a stack of blanks in upright position resting on their bottom edges, means for preliminarily separating the endmost blank from the stack, and means for adhesively engaging the surface of the endmost separated blank of said JAMES A; GRAY; 

